Ironing machine shoe coupling and emergency release means



Oct. 17, 1950 F. M. FREIS 2,526,550

. IRONING MACHINE SHOE COUPLING AND EMERGENCY RELEASE MEANS Filed Nov. 14, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

F. M. FREIS 2,526,550 IRONING MACHINE SHOE COUPLING AND I EMERGENCY RELEASE MEANS Oct. 17, 1950 -4 Shets-Shet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1945 ziuu 2 Oct. 17, 1950 F. M. FREIS 2,526,550

IRONING MACHINE snos COUPLING AND EMERGENCY RELEASE MEANS Filed Nov. 14, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 17, 1950 F. M. FREIS 2,525,550

* IRONING MACHINE SHOE COUPLING AND EMERGENCY RELEASE MEANS Filed Nov. 14, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l atenteii deli 1 7,

IRONING MACHINE SHOE COUPLING AND EMERGENCY RELEASE MEANS Frederick M. Freis, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Conlon-Moore Corporation, Cicero, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application November 14, 1945, Serial No. 628,489

11 Claims.

This invention relates to ironing machines,

particularly ironing machines intended for domestic or home use, and has to do with means for leasing the ironing shoe from the cooperating roll of the machine.

My invention is directed particularly to safety release means whereby the ironing shoe may quickly be released from the roll, for movement away therefrom, in case of emergency, this release means also serving normally to lock the shoe supporting arm to the shoe operating shaft for movement therewith to and from the roll. More specifically, my invention is directed to the provision of efficient shoe release means comprising but few parts and which is simple and positive in its operation, such release means being associated with shoe supporting means including spring means effective for urging the shoe toward the roll under yielding pressure during the ironing operation and for cushioning movement of the shoe rearward away from the roll upon release of the shop from the shaft and rearward movement of the shoe by the release means. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a back view of an ironing machine, with the shoe cover removed, embodying v the shoe release means of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1, with certain parts shown in elevation and the roll indicated in dot and dash lines;

Figure 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 4 is a front view of the shoe supporting arm and the release means and associated parts, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 1, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but with the shoe released from the shoe operating shaft and moved away from the roll; and

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but with the shoe moved to the roll and not coupled to the shoe operating shaft, the latter occupying the angular position which it assumes for moving the shoe into pressure contact with thJe roll.

I have shown the release means of my invention as applied to a portable ironing machine, such as that disclosed in my Patent No. 2,346,374, issued April 11, 1944, by way of example, it being understood, however, that my invention may also be applied to other ironing machines having a rockable shoe operating shaft or equivalent means for moving the shoe to and from the roll of the machine. The ironing machine comprises a base 1 having at one end an upwardly extending gear housing 8 from which extends a rotatably mounted roll 9 and a rockably mounted shoe operating shaft i 0, disposed in back of roll 9 adjacent the lower portion thereof and parallel therewith. The gear housing 8 contains suitable 5 mechanism for rocking the shaft Ill in opposite directions and to predetermined extent, and also includes mechanism for rotating the roll, the machine being driven by a suitably located electric motor, this motor conveniently being housed lo within the roll as in my above identified patent. An ironing shoe ll, of known construction, is disposed in back of the roll 9 for cooperation therewith, and is moved to and from the roll in a manner which will be described presently. This shoe is provided with suitable heating means or resistor elements !2, of known type, mounted at the back of the face plate of shoe ll and secured thereto by channel clamping bars [3 and I4, these bars being secured to the shoe by screw studs l5 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the face plate of shoe H and receiving nuts [6 seating against the outer faces of the bars.

The central clamping bar [4 is provided with a pair of ears I! struck outward therefrom and disposed at the outer faces of forwardly extending ears is, provided at the upper ends of side flanges IQ of a shoe supporting arm 20 of substantially U shape in cross section, the lower aoends of flanges is being pivoted on the shoe operating shaft [0.

Each of the ears [8 is provided with a slot 2| extending in a direction forward and rearward thereof, that is, transversely to the shoe operating shaft iii. The slots 2| receive a pin 22 which passes through ears H, this pin also passing through forwardly extending arms 23 of a U-shaped mounting bracket 24, the bight portion 25 of which seats against the front face of the upper end portion of a leaf spring 26. Bracket 24 is securely clamped to spring 26, by

a clamp plate 2'! seating against the back face' of spring 26, and securing bolts 28 passing through bight portion 25 of bracket 24 and 45,- through plate 27 and having nuts 29 threaded on their rearward ends, with look washers 30 disposed between the nuts 29 and plate 21. As will be noted more clearly from Figure 4, spring 26 is of less width than plate 21 and bight por- 5o tion 25 of bracket 24, and the bolts 28 are disposed in contact with the lateral edges of spring 26 so as to maintain bracket 24 and plate 21 in proper centered relation to the spring.

At its lower end spring 26 is secured, by a, clamping plate 32, disposed at the front of spring 26, and cooperating screws 33, to back wall or bight portion 34 of shoe supporting arm 26. The screws 33 pass through wall 34, with lock washers 35 disposed between the heads of the respective screws and wall 34, and screws 33 are disposed in contact with the lateral edges of spring 26, as

shown more clearly in Figure 4, restraining spring 28 against transverse movement relative to wall 35. The spring 25 is rather thick or heavy so as to exert considerable spring pressure for holding the shoe to the roll, as will appear more fully presently, and the upper end of this spring has permanent pivotal connection to the shoe H, through ears 17 thereof and arms 23 of bracket 25, the shoe having lost motion connection in a forward and rearward direction to the shoe supporting arm 23, through the slotted ears I8 of arm 29 and the pin '22 operating in the slots 2! of ears l8.

The shoe operating shaft Hi is turned a predetermined distance forward and a predetermined distance rearward, for moving the shoe to and from the roll, in the use of the machine, and in order that the shoe may partake of the movement of the shaft I provide latch means whereby the shoe supporting arm 29 may be locked to shaft to and, in emergency, may be released therefrom for independent movement awa from the roll. A release lever 37, of substantially inverted U shape, is pivoted. adjacent its lower end, on a pin 38 extending transversely of shoe supporting arm 29 and. mounted at its ends in flanges 58 thereof. A. latch finger shaped as shown in Figure is spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to thelower end portion of each arm to of release lever 3'5; the pivot: pin 38 passing through the fingers 39 as well as through arms to provide increased areas f bearing of lever B? on pin Each of the fingers a9 is provided with a downwardly opening notch l disposed to engage over the square head 62 of a stud 53 secured through shaft iii; diametrically thereof. As will be noted more clearly from Figure 4, the studs 43 are so disposed that the heads 42 thereof are in contact with the inner faces of flanges E9 of 25, or substantially so, effective for restraining this arm against relative movement lengthwise of the shoe operating shaft iii. A torsion spring 55 is wound about'pin38; at the inner face of one of the arms 46 of the lever 32, and has a forward upwardly extending arm 35 the upper end of whichis hooked in back of and over a shouldered screw t? vhich is threaded-into the adjacent arm to of lever 3'1. Spring is also provided with a rearward upwardly extending arm so, the upper portion of which is in contact with the forward face of back wall 3 3 of shoe supp g' arm 29. It will be seen that spring 45 urges release lever 5i in a counterclockwise direction about pin 38, as viewed in Fl ure 3, thus urging the latch ingers 39 toward the shoe operating shaft it. Pin 38 is restrained against lengthwise movement relative to arm 25 and lever 31, by cotter pins t9 passing therethrough adjacent spring 35 and the inner face of one of thefingers 59, pin 22 likewise being restrained against endwise movement by cotter pins 59 passing therethrough at the outer faces of ears ll of clamping bar it.

In the normal position of the release lever 3?, shown in Figure 3, the notches d5 of latch fingers 39- rece-ive heads 42 of studs t3, the heads 22 fitting snugl within notches 4! in contact with the forward and rearward walls thereof so as to avoid any looseness or play between fingers 3S and heads 42. In that manner the shoe supporting arm is locked to shaft in for movement therewith so that when shaft if) is turned a predetermined distance in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, the shoe 11 is moved into contact with roll 9, after which arm as moves a further distance with shaft It] so as to place the spring under tension, whereby shoe I: is maintained under spring pressure in contact with roll 9 or with articles being ironed" and passing between the roll and the shoe, the pin 22 being then located at the rearward portions of slots 2 l, as shown in Figure 3.

When the shaft if! is turned in clockwise direction, from its position shown in Figure 3, the upper end of arm 25? is moved rearward relative to shoe l as permitted by the slots 2 i relaxing tension of Spring 2%, until the pin 22 contacts the ears 5% at the forward end of slot ii, at which time arm it picks up the shoe and moves it rearward away from roll 9 a distance predetermined by the extent of turning of shaft it in clockwise direction. The described movement of the shoe to and from the roll by turning of shaft ill in opposite directions is the normal operation which occurs in ironing machines of this general type having a rockable shoe operating shaft, and need not be described in greater detail, it being noted, however, that the connections between the shoe and the shoe supporting arm and the spring 26 are novel and constitute important features of my invention.

t will be noted that the release lever 37 extends upwardly above shoe supporting arm 26 and has a block or handle 52, formed of any suitable heat insulating material, secured to its bight portion 53- by screws 54, or in any other suitable manner. The block 52 projects somewhat above shoe if so as to be readily accessible from in front of the roll 9. In the case of an emergenc requiring quick release of the shoe from the roll, the operator forces the block 52 rearward, thereby swinging release lever 31 in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 3 and 5, about the pin 38. This rearward movement of lever 31 swings the fingers 39 upward and forward into the position shown in Figure 5, unlatching them from the heads 42 of studs 43, at which time arms 4i! of lever 31 contact back wall 34 of shoe supporting arm 26, at the upper end of this wall. The arm 29 is then released from shaft [0, and in the continued rearward movementof lever 3?, arm 26 swings rearward about shaft it carrying with it the shoe 5 l, which is thus moved rearward away from roll 9. A cross pin 55 is carried by arm 26, in flanges 59 thereof, positioned below heads 32 of studs 43 and disposed for contact with heads 42 so as to. limit the rearward movement of arm 25 about shaft It; When arm 28 reaches its rearmost position, cross pin 55 is in contact with the underfaces of heads 62 of studs 43, as shown in Figure 6, the shoe H being then substantially in rear of the axis of shaft l8 and arm 25 being held in its rearmost position by gravity. Contact of pin .55 with. heads llof studs 43 stops movement of arm Zlirather abruptly, andthe shoe H tends to continue its rearward movement due to inertia. The. continued rearward movement of shoe H is cushioned by spring 25, the pin and slot connections between thev shoe and arm 26 permitting of relative rearward movement of the shoe until such movement is overcome by spring 26', at which time the shoe is returned to the position shown in Figure 6, with, pin in contactwith cars it! at the forward endof slots 2 l. Spring 26 thus functions to cushion the rearward movement of shoe ll, upon release of arm 29 from shaft is and rearward movement of this arm in the manner described, while also serving to maintain the shoe in pressure contact with the roll or the articles being ironed, during the ironing operation, as above described.

After the supporting arm 20 has been released from the shaft I and turns rearward thereabout in the manner above described, the release lever 31 is released and, under the influence of spring 45, assumes substantially the position shown in Figure 6, from which it, will be noted that the forward portion of the respective latch fingers 39 is disposed for contact with the head 42 of corresponding stud 43. In order to again lock arm 20 to shaft II), the handle or block 52 of release lever 31 is grasped by the operator and this lever is swung in a counterclockwise direction, carrying with it the supporting arm 20, during which movement the latch fingers 39 exert a camming action on heads 42 of studs 43 so that the lever 31 has slight turning movementin clockwise direction about pin 38, though the movement of lever 31 with arm 20 is in counterclockwise direction. In the continued counterclockwise movement of the arm 20 and lever 31 about shaft I0, the notches 4| of latch fingers 39 are brought into register with heads 42 of studs 43, at which time lever 31 is turned in counterclockwise direction, relative to arm 20, about pin 38, by springs 45, and the fingers 39 are engaged over heads 42 of studs 43 with a snap action. The shoe supporting arm 20 is then locked to shaft II] for movement therewith, so as to move shoe I I toand from roll 9 in the manner previously described. Preferably, after arm 20 has been released from shaft II], this shaft is turned in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 5 and 6, into the position to which it is turned for moving the shoe away from the roll in the normal operation of the machine, it being understood that any suitable known means is provided for turning shaft ID in opposite directions and to a predetermined extent, as previously stated. Turning of shaft I0 in clockwise direction, as stated, avoids contact of shoe II with roll 9 during the operation of reclutching or locking arm 20 to shaft II! which obviously facilitates that operation. In Figure 6 the shaft I0 is shown in the angular position which it occupies when the shoe is in pressure contact with the roll, in

the normal operation of the machine. It is to be noted, however, that the angular relation between shaft I9 and the shoe supporting arm 20, when this arm is in its released and rearmost position, is the same in either of the referred to angular positions of shaft I0, so that the operation of locking the arm 20 to shaft II] would be the same in either case, with the exception that with shaft ID in its angular position shown in Figure 6 the shoe II would be brought into pressure contact with roll 9 during the operation of locking arm 29 to shaft I9, which, while permissible in general, is not desirable since it interferes with the coupling operation. Since it is known in ironing machines to provide safet release means whereby the shoe may quickly be released from the shoe operating shaft, when in pressure contact with the roll, and to turn the shaft into the angular position which it occupies when the shoe is moved away from the roll in the normal operation of the machine, preliminary to again locking or clutching the shoe supporting arm to the shaft, it is not thought necessary to illustrate or describe that operation in greater detail. Suffice it to state that, in practice, shaft I0 is turned into its angular position which it occupies when the shoe has been moved away from the roll in the normal operation of the machine, preliminary to locking the shoe supporting arm 20 to shaft III after it has been released therefrom by operation of the emergency release lever 31.

While it is preferred to turn the shoe operating the shoe Il may be moved forward against the roll 9, but not in pressurecontact therewith, by means of lever 31, while shaft I0 remains in the angular position which it occupies when holding shoe I I in pressure contact with roll' 9. The parts are then positioned as shown in Figure 7, with the shoe II in contact, but not pressure contact, with roll 9, and the latch fingers 39 cammed upward by heads 42 of studs 43'but not advanced sufficiently far forward to engage over heads 42. With the parts positioned as stated, the shaft I0 is turned clockwise into its position in which shoe II is away from roll 9. The lever 31 and the parts carried thereby remain in their forward positions of Figure 7, due to inertia and friction supplemented by the generally forward and upward pressure exerted on fingers 39 by heads 42 of studs 93, during the clockwise turning of shaft I0. As shaft Ill turns clockwise, fingers 39 are cammed further upward by heads d2 of studs 43, until heads 42 are aligned with notches 4|. The fingers 39 then snap over heads 42, coupling the shoe II to shaft II]. In the continued turning of shaft IE] in clockwise direction, the shoe is moved therewith into its position away from roll 9, into which it is moved in the normal operation of the machine. On the succeeding operation of shaft II}, when it is turned in counterclockwise direction, shoe II is moved thereby into pressure contact with roll 9. In that manner, the coupling operation may be effected semiautomatically and with but slight effort on the part of the operator. Obviously, if desired, the lever 31 may be held manually in its forward position, though ordinarily that is not necessary.

As will be clear from what has been said, and from Figures 5, 6 and 7, the center of gravity of the shoe II and arm 20 and the parts carried thereby is so disposed that the shoe II will remain in either its position shown in Figure 6 or its position shown in Figures 5 and 7. That is advantageous in that it guards against unwanted movement of the shoe I l toward the roll 9, when shoe I I has been moved to its position of Figure 6, while permitting automatic coupling of arm 20 to shaft I0, by clockwise turning of the latter, when shoe I I is against the roll 9 as in Figure '7. It is sometimes desirable, inadjusting an article to be ironed 0n the roll 9, to have the shoe I I on light contact with the article, effective for holding it on the roll 9 while permitting the article to be adjusted and smoothed preliminary to invention, may be resorted to without departing 1. In an ironing machine, a roll and a cooper ating shoe, a rockably mounted shoe operating shaft in back of and parallel with said roll adiacent the lower portion thereof, a shoe supporting arm pivoted at its lower end on said shaft, a release lever pivoted on said arm, said lever and shaft having cooperating latching elements such that forward movement of said lever relative to said arm locks. the latter to said shaft and rearward movement of said lever relative to said arm releases the latter from said shaft for rearward turning movement thereabout, said shaft and arm having cooperating abutments positively limiting rearward movement of said arm about said shaft, a leaf spring fixed at its lower end to said arm, and means providing permanent pivotal connection between the upper end of said spring and said shoe and forward and rearward lost motion connection between said shoe and the upper end of said arm, the latter having an abutment disposed for contact by said release lever in the movement thereof to releasing position.

2. In an ironing machine, a roll and a cooperating shoe, a rockably mounted shoe operating shaft in back of and parallel with said roll adjacent the lower portion thereof, a shoe supporting arm comprising side flanges pivoted at their lower ends on said shaft and a back wall connecting said flanges, latching studs fixed to said shaft projecting outward therefrom in proximity to said flanges restraining said arm against relative movement lengthwise of said shaft, a leaf spring fixed at its lower end to said back wall extending upward and forward therefrom, a release lever pivoted on said flanges extending upward above said arm and having latching fingers engageable with and disengageable from said studs whereby said arm may be locked to and released from said shaft for movement therewith and independent rearward movement, and means providing permanent pivotal connection between said shoe and the upper end of said spring and forward and rearward lost motion connection between said shoe and the upper end of said arm.

3. In an ironing machine, a roll and a cooperating shoe, a rockably mounted shoe operating shaft in back of and parallel with said roll adjacent the lower portion thereof, a shoe supporting arm comprising side flanges pivoted at their lower ends on said shaft and a back wall connecting said flanges, latching studs fixed to said shaft projecting outwardtherefrom adjacent the inner faces of said flanges restraining said arm against relative movement lengthwise of said shaft, a leaf spring fixed at its lower end to said back wall extending upward and forward therefrom between said flanges, a substantially U- shaped release lever pivoted on said flanges at the inner faces thereof straddling said spring and having downwardly and forwardly extending latch fingers engageable with and disengageable from said studs whereby said arm may be locked to and released from said shaft for movement therewith and independent rearward movement, and means providing permanent pivotal connection between said shoe and the upper end of said spring and rearward and forward lost motion connection between said shoe and the upper end of said arm, the upper portion of said wall being disposed for contact by said lever in the movement thereof in unlatching direction.

4. In an ironing machine, a roll and a cooperating shoe, a rockably mounted shoe operating shaft in back of said roll, a shoe supporting arm pivoted on said shaft, a'release lever pivoted on said arm, said lever and shaft. having cooperating latching elements such that forward movement of said lever relative to. said arm positively locks the latter to said shaft for-movement therewith and rearward movement of said lever relative to said arm releases the latter from said shaft for rearward turning movement thereabout, said arm having an abutment disposed for contact by said release lever in the rearward movement thereof to releasing position, and operating connections between said arm and said shoe comprising a lost motion connection therebetween and yielding means carried by said arm effective for yieldingly urging said shoe toward said roll in the movement of said arm toward said roll.

5. In an ironing machine, a roll and a cooperating shoe, a rockably mounted shoe operating shaft in back of said roll, a shoe supporting arm pivoted on said shaft, a release lever mounted on said arm for movement therewith and for movement relative thereto, said lever and shaft having cooperating latching elements such that forward movement of said lever with said arm about said shaft positively looks said arm to said shaft for movement therewith and rearward pressure on said lever releases said arm from said shaft for rearward turning movement thereabout, said lever and arm having cooperating means for moving said arm rearward in the rearward movement of said lever after release of said arm from said shaft, and operating connections between said arm and said shoe, comprising a lost motion connection therebetween and yielding means carried by said arm effective for yieldingly urging said shoe toward said roll in the movement of said arm toward said roll.

6. In an ironing machine, a roll and a cooperating shoe, a rockably mounted shoe operating shaft in back of said roll turnable a predetermined distance forward and rearward for moving said shoe forward into cooperating pressure contact with and rearward away from said roll, a shoe supporting arm pivoted on said shaft, a release lever mounted on said arm for movement therewith and for movement relative thereto, said lever and shaft having cooperating latching elements such that engagement of said elements locks said arm to said shaft for movement ther with and rearward pressure on said lever disengages said latching elements and releases said arm from said shaft for rearward turning movement thereabout, said lever and arm having cooperating means for moving said arm rearward in the rearward movement of said lever after release of said arm from said shaft, and operating connections between said arm and said shoe comprising a lost motion connection therebetween and yielding means carried by said arm eifective for yieldingly urging said shoe toward said roll in the movement of said arm toward said roll, the center of gravity of said shoe and arm being so disposed that said shoe will remain in position to said roll when said arm is unlatchedfrom said shaft, said latching elements comprising a member on said arm yieldingly urged toward latching position and being so disposed as to be out of engagement when said arm is swung forward about said shaft into position with said shoe in contact with said roll when said shaft is in its forward position and engaged by turning of said shaft to its rearward position.

'7. In an ironing machine, a roll and a cooperating shoe, a rockably mounted shoe operating shaft in. back of said roll turnable a predetermined distance forward and rearward for moving said shoe forward into cooperating pressure contact with and rearward away from said roll, a shoe supporting arm pivoted on said shaft, a release lever pivoted on said arm having a latch finger overlying said shaft yieldingly urged toward the latter, said finger and shaft having cooperating latching elements such that engagement of said elements positively locks said arm to said shaft for movement therewith and rearward pressure on said lever disengages said latching elements and releases said arm from said shaft for rearward turning movement thereabout, said lever and arm having cooperating means for moving said arm rearward in the rearward movement of said lever-after release of said arm from said shaft, and operating connections between said arm and said shoe comprising a lost motion connection therebetween and yielding means carried by said arm effective for yieldingly urging said shoe toward said roll in the movement of said arm toward said roll, the center of gravity of said shoe and arm being so disposed that said shoe will remain in position to said roll when said arm is unlatched from said shaft, said latching elements being so disposed-as to be out of engagement when said arm is swung forward about said shaft into position with saidshoe in contact with said roll when said shaft is in its forward position and said latching elements being engaged by turning of said shaft to its rearward position.

ward the latter and provided with a notch in its lower edge, a latching stud fixed to said shaft engageable in said notch whereby said arm may be locked to said shaft for movement therewith and may be released from said shaft for movement thereabout, said lever and said arm having cooperating means for moving the latter rearward about said shaft with said lever, and operating connections between said arm and said shoe comprising a lost motion connection therebetween and yielding means carried by said arm effective for yieldingly urging said shoe toward said roll in the movement of said arm toward said roll, the center of gravity of said shoe and arm being so disposed that said shoe will remain in position to said roll when said arm is unlatched from said shaft, said notch and stud being so disposed as to be out of engagement when said arm is swung forward about said shaft into .position with said shoe in contact with said roll when said shaft is in its forward position and engaged by turning of said shaft to its rearward position.

9. In an ironing machine, a roll and a cooperating shoe, a rockably mounted shoe operating shaft in back of said roll, a shoe supporting arm pivoted on said shaft, a latching stud fixed to said shaft, a release lever pivoted on said arm 7 having a downwardly and forwardly extending latch finger having a notch engageable over and disengageable from said stud whereby said arm may be ositively locked to and releasedv from said shaft for movement with said shaft and independent thereof, said lever and arm having cooperating means for moving the latter rearward with said lever when said arm has been released from said shaft, and operating connections between said arm and said shoe comprisinga lost 10 motion connection therebetween and yielding means carried by said arm effective for yieldingly urging said shoe toward said roll in the movement of said arm toward said roll.

10. In an ironing machine, a roll and a cooperating shoe, a rockably mounted shoe operating shaft in back of said roll, a shoe supporting arm pivoted on said shaft, a latching stud fixed to said shaft, a release lever pivoted on said arm having a downwardly and forwardly extending latch finger having a latching element engageable over and disengageable from said stud whereby said arm may be locked to and released from said shaft for movement therewith and independent thereof, means yieldingly urging said latch finger in latching direction said lever and arm having cooperating means for moving the latter rearward with said lever when said arm has been released from said shaft, and operating connections between said arm and said shoe comprising a lost motion connection therebetween and yielding means carried by said arm effective for yieldingly urging said shoe toward said roll in'the movement of said arm toward said roll, the center of gravity of said shoe and latching element being so disposed as to be out of engagement when said arm is swung forward about said shaft into position with said shoe in contact with said roll when said shaft is in its forward position and said latching elements being engaged by turning of said shaft to its rearward position.

11. In an ironing machine, a roll and a 00- operating shoe, a rockably mounted shoe operating shaft in .back of said roll turnable a predetermined distance forward and rearward for moving said shoe into pressure contact with and away from said roll, a shoe supporting arm pivoted on said shaft with operating connections to said shoe comprising a lost motion connection therebetween and yielding means carried by said arm effective for yieldingly urging said shoe toward said roll in the movement of said arm toward said roll, the center of gravity of said shoe and arm being so disposed that said shoe will remain in position to said roll when said arm is unlatched from said shaft, and means for positively locking said arm to said shaft for movement therewith and releasing it from said shaft for rearward movement thereabout, said means comprising latching elements out of engagement when said arm is turned about said shaft into position with said shoe in contact with said roll when said shaft is in its forward position and said latching elements being engaged by turning of said shaft to its rearward position.

FREDERICK M. FREIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Number Name Date v 1,790,684, 7 Szekely et al Feb. 3, 1931 1,825,350 Hill Sept. 29, 1931 1,869,745 Hill Aug. 2, 1932 2,067,719 McCabe Jan. 12, 1937 2,224,013 Conterman Dec. 3, 1940 2,253,964 Wardwell Aug. 26, 1941 2,363,517 Ferris Nov. 28, 1944 

